Monthly Archives: May 2015

Los Angeles Tunnel System Legend

Nationality: Jewish
Age: 20
Occupation: Student, studying Political Science
Residence: Yorktown Heights, NY and Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/15
Primary Language: English
Language: Hebrew

The informant heard this legend from a friend who has lived in Los Angeles for her whole life.

Underneath Los Angeles, there exists a system of tunnels that runs the breadth of the whole city. Some say it’s because Los Angeles was modeled after Paris, and the Paris Catacombs inspired Los Angeles’ tunnels. The tunnels existed during the prohibition era, and the legend says that corrupt policemen and officials would smuggle alcohol into and around the city to those who were willing to pay. Apparently, the tunnels were declared an earthquake hazard later on, and the city closed them off to the public.

There is some variation in the legend from person to person, she says. One person she asked about the tunnels said that there was an entire network of criminals still living underground in the tunnels.

 

Lavender and Other Folk Remedies

Nationality: Jewish
Age: 20
Occupation: Student, studying Political Science
Residence: Yorktown Heights, NY and Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/15
Primary Language: English
Language: Hebrew

The informant listed off several folk remedies she learned from her parents and grandparents:

For colds, she said her mother and grandmother would always give her echinacea, and for nausea they would use ginger to calm her stomach.

Her father always uses peppermint for nausea. She says you’re supposed to inhale the peppermint because the aroma is good to settle the stomach and aid digestion.

Lastly, her father uses lavender for earaches. As a child, the informant always used to get earaches. She had developed an immunity to most mainstream antibiotics because of multiple illnesses earlier on in life. Because of this, the bacteria in her ears couldn’t be treated with antibiotics. Her dad would boil lavender, let it cool to a slightly warm temperature, and then pour it in her ears to flush out the bacteria. She says the treatment worked wonders, and got rid of the infections when antibiotics couldn’t. Her father learned this remedy from his own father, who used to get earaches often as well.

Kicking the Flagpole

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/28/15
Primary Language: English

The informant cites a well-known tradition here at USC: kicking the flagpole on the way to the Coliseum to cheer our football team to victory. Students, their families, professors, and many other USC fans flock towards the Coliseum in a group. Those walking from the direction of campus (usually most of the students, their families, and professors) pass by a group of flagpoles. In passing, each person in the crowd sticks a foot out and kicks the flagpole to bring victory for USC. He remembers the first time he ever kicked the flagpole as a freshman in 2011: “I was excited. It felt good to be taking part in such a huge tradition. I think it was that moment that really solidified in my mind that I was a part of the Trojan Family, that I was allowed to take part in this tradition because I belonged.”

The way he speaks about kicking the flagpole shows that it’s more than just a long-standing tradition meant to show school spirit and bring good luck to the team; it’s also a rite of passage. The moment a new student kicks the flagpole, they’ve crossed a liminal point; they’ve taken part in an important and exclusive USC ritual for the first time. They become a part of the tradition, and a part of the USC family.

Wasp Sting Remedy

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/29/15
Primary Language: English

When the informant was in middle school, he was running barefoot in his backyard. He didn’t see the wasp until he stepped on it. He had never been stung by a wasp before and was unused to the level of pain and discomfort he felt up his entire leg. He couldn’t sleep that night because it still hurt so badly, so he asked his mother if there was anything else she could give him for the pain that wouldn’t interact with the painkillers he had already taken.

His mother put unseasoned meat tenderizer on the wasp sting. He said that within an hour, the pain was at a manageable level. His mother learned the remedy from her mother, who in turn had heard it from her own mother. Apparently the remedy has been passed down for several generations.

Harry the Hanukkah Bush (Family Tradition Story)

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/28/15
Primary Language: English

Harry the Hanukkah bush has been in his family for so many generations that his family can’t really remember who it was that started it, but they have a story as to why the tradition was started.

According to his father, someone in their family many generations back thought it was silly that Christians celebrated with Christmas trees. That family member thought that their family should start celebrating Hanukkah with a Hanukkah bush as a joke. His father doesn’t know how the name Harry came along, but he doesn’t think the name was originally included in the Hanukkah Bush tradition. The family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other relations, each put up their own Hanukkah Bush on the first day of Hanukkah and keep the bush up for the duration of the holiday, giving it Hanukkah gifts along with the rest of the family. Gifts often include alcohol and candy, which is distributed to the family after the holiday comes to a close.

The informant plans to continue the tradition with his own family. “It’d be a shame to let such a long-running family tradition die out on my end,” he said.